In the last week I must have watched at least 20 different sketch comedy skits on YouTube under the new-age mantra: Sh*t (Insert Demographic/Group Here) Say. Of course some are funnier than others, but my favorite one so far has got to be: Shit White Girls Say…to Black Girls

The vlogger who created this video, Franchesca Ramsey, was recently on my favorite NPR Show, Tell Me More. And during her segment host Michel Martin asks Franchesca, why she thinks so much of the cutting edge humor around race, that many people really find fresh and appealing, is on YouTube and self-generated?

She responded:

I think the way that race is presented on TV has kind of put us in this situation because for so many Caucasians – and not just Caucasian- Americans, all backgrounds – a lot of times we gain our knowledge from TV. And so we say oh, well, black girls on TV act like X, Y and Z. But you don’t. That’s so weird. What is that about? So for me at least as an actress-comedian, I have found that when I sometimes go on auditions or I get pitches for parts I say that’s not me. So that’s what I try to do with my content online. I try to show who I am, but I try to show something that people will enjoy because they can relate to me.

Exactly! And I for one am ecstatic that YouTube is giving people the opportunity to relay their experiences with each other– even if it’s through a mantra that’s becoming monotonous. As long as its specific, honest, relatable, and (frankly) good picture/sound quality then I say put it out there– and let the debate, on whether the video holds any truth, happen in the comments section.

Do you agree with me and feel these videos should continue? Or do you think these videos are offensive and people should stop making them?

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